The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today approved a proposal to lay a water pipeline from Haiderpur plant to tackle contamination of water supply due to rising level of ammonia in the Yamuna.

It also green-lit the deployment of 200 tailor-made machines for cleaning of sewer lines in the narrow streets of the city, a move aimed at eliminating the practice of manual scavenging.

According to the DJB, a 2,400 mm line has been laid and a wall is being constructed between drain numbers 6 and 8 in Haryana's Sonipat to segregate industrial waste and raw water, which flows through canals to Delhi.

It said the wall would stop ammonia from getting mixed with raw water.

The proposal was approved by a board meeting of DJB, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"An additional 2,400 mm line for raw water mains from Delhi sub-branch near Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant (WTP) would be laid in order to reduce dependency on Yamuna for raw water.

"The raw water from Yamuna is often contaminated with ammonia, thus disturbing the water supply in several areas of Delhi," the DJB said in a statement.

"On the other hand, the 200 tailor-made sewer cleaning machines will be helpful in maintaining the sewer line in the narrow lanes of Delhi," it said.

The DJB also approved waiving of all arrears for Dwarka residents on account of additional sewer charges there. The move comes after the chief minister paid a visit to the area, with the locals raising the matter with him.